I am an agenda person.
I love my agenda. I have to have my agenda. Writing my plan for the next day, is
one of the last things I do before I drift off to dreamland. If I don’t have a
completed daily agenda, my day seems fractured and incomplete.
So last week, when my
day did NOT go as (I) planned, I contemplated going back to bed. But, instead,
I chose to whine. It was at that point that I noticed I had missed something a
day prior, when I returned from an out of town event. I had not heard about the
terrific winds that played havoc in our area. When I arrived home, the weather
had settled and I only learned about the unwelcome winds that gusted in my
absence after the fact, so I looked outside - straight ahead. All seemed well.
When I happened to step
on our back deck the next morning, I realized that I perhaps should have looked
left, too. Our portable canvas and metal storage shed that had stood solid for
four years, was now uprooted, upended and had obviously been lifted up in the
air, over the fence and was now upside down in the neighbour’s yard. The
contents were scattered and strewn. We hadn’t noticed and it seemed our lovely
neighbours hadn’t seen it, either.
But I sure did this
morning.
“God. Seriously? You
know how much I have to do today.”
My agenda was full. I
began to whine. Company was coming and the last thing I felt like doing that
day was battling with the bulky, mangled metal and canvas monstrosity. I had to
make meat pie and apple crisp. I needed to get my Dad up and I had deadlines. But
I also had to get outside and figure out what to do.
The neighbours weren't
answering the door. My husband wasn't answering his phone.
My moaning
intensified.
“Why me, God? Why now,
God?”
Do all things without grumbling or complaining. Phillipians
2:14
That still small Voice
came a-whispering again.
“Glynis. Seriously?”
My mind drifted to James 1: 2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials
of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces
perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything.
Then I remembered Texas
and Florida, and Las Vegas and Somalia, lost children, exploited women,
persecuted men ... my silly mangled metal and scattered contents didn’t seem to
matter anymore.
I left a text message
for my hubby to call when he got a second. I got Dad up and ready to face the
day. He was up in good time and we weren’t in a rush. The telephone rang. My
husband would be home in a few hours. Just enough time to whip up a meat pie
and apple crisp. Company would be coming soon. The kettle was on.
And my day continued.
The meat pie and apple crisp were delicious. We enjoyed our company. Hubby came
home just in time to enjoy some dessert and then we headed outside and worked
together to clean up and toss out. Dad had a nap. I met a deadline and all was
well with our corner of the world.
Glynis lives, loves, laughs and does an awful lot of reading, writing, publishing and praying in her home office.
How thrilled Glynis is to be part of CHRISTMAS WITH HOT APPLE CIDER - an anthology filled with a wonderful assortment of Christmas short stories, memories, drama and poetry.
6 comments:
Hi Glynis! I appreciate what you say in your post. I just see you were reminding yourself you are human. I enjoyed reading this. In a way your upset shed may indeed be a reminder of how our plans can be interrupted. I think it is also how we respond to these interruptions that matters.
Surprising what happens when we don't expect or need a wrinkle. Ours was a different sort. I wonder how loud God laughs at our plans. Glad you got through the day though. Is the shed completely done in?
Love this Glynis. I once read that the seemingly haphazard events that upset our plans are really God's deliberate additions and our true purpose for that particular day. Thanks for the reminder.
I'm far from as focused and organized as you are, Glynis, but you speak for me and no doubt many of us regarding the tendency to whine when a monkey wrench gets thrown into the works of our expectations and activities we want to accomplish. Your 'small voice' experiences are so true for me, too. A broad scriptural frame of reference really is a valuable 'attitude adjuster' for providing a spiritual nudge or a more strong 'smack'! ~~+~~
I certainly can relate, Glynis. I felt the stress as you described the day. Today I went across town to have bi-weekly sewing morning with friends. I lug sewing machine etc. and just as I was opening the trunk, I remembered I had left a critical piece behind. I jumped back in the car and decided to enjoy the ride vs feeling the pressure. This helped. I also decided on this 'double' trip, that when I pass a church, especially in my own town, I am going to say a prayer for that congregation; a new prompt for me.
Yes, Carolyn. Your's was definitely a different sort. Mine was nothing compared ... And yes the shed is no more! Gone. But now we have a lovely open area! :)
Isn't that the truth, Rose? Our plans never trump God's! It IS a good reminder. You are correct!
Haha Peter. That spiritual smack occurs often for me. You'd think, because Be Still and Know That I Am God, is my favourite scripture, I might remember to do it once in a while! Still learning...
And Carol, You hit the nail on the head! It's all about attitude. And I love your prayer commitment. So wonderful!
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